Schools failing to educate children about the dangers of alcohol

Secondary schools are failing to provide children with enough information about alcohol, despite many admitting to doing things they regretted while under the influence.

The Drinkaware Trust found that more than 55% of 11- to 16-year-olds got more information in school about sex and drugs than alcohol. And more than a third received no information about alcohol outside of school.

The study found one in five had done something they regretted after drinking alcohol, and the average age of their first alcohol drink was just 11.

Jean Coussins, a spokesperson for the Drinkaware Trust, said: “For many years alcohol education has been the Cinderella service of the curriculum.”

The organisation has developed an alcohol education programme for young people entitled Streetwise which aims to give them to chance to learn about using alcohol safely.